Biochemical evidence of cannibalism at a prehistoric Puebloan site in southwestern Colorado

Abstract

The existence of cannibalism is one of the most controversial issues in the archaeology of the American Southwest. Disarticulated, cut-marked and heat-altered human remains from non-burial contexts at prehistoric Puebloan (Anasazi) archaeological sites in the Four Corners region of the American Southwest have been interpreted by some scholars as evidence of cannibalism. Osteological studies indicate that many of the disarticulated bodies found at these sites were processed in a manner consistent with food preparation. Opponents of this interpretation point out that non-cannibalistic practices such as secondary interment, corpse mutilation and ritualized witch executions might account for the assemblages. Osteological evidence alone does not document the actual ingestion of human flesh. Here we show consumption of human flesh did occur as demonstrated in preserved human waste containing identifiable human tissue remains from a site with osteological evidence of cannibalism.

Hunter‐gatherer use of small animal food resources: coprolite evidence

“…The importance in identifying human origin was brought to the forefront in analyses of purported cannibal coprolites Dongoske et al, 2000;Lambert et al, 2000;Marlar et al, 2000). This is especially true in this study because we present the facts that animal bone, hair, and intestinal residue were found in human coprolites.…”

A molecular analysis of dietary diversity for three archaic Native Americans

“…Although skeletal remains obviously have advantages, for example, for the study of social contexts revealed by burial practices, these findings show that paleofeces from dry cave and rock shelter sites represent a source of ancient DNA that is relatively abundant, and from which the DNA is more reliably retrievable than is the case for human skeletal remains. In addition, paleofecal DNA offers valuable information on the meat and plant components of ancient diets that complements and extends information obtainable by morphological and biochemical (26) analyses. Finally, paleofeces may be more accessible to scientific study than other remains, because they do not represent objects of spiritual value (27).…”

Canibalismo en el Pleistoceno<br /><em>Cannibalism during the Pleistocene</em>

“…Aunque existen otras formas de detección de las prácticas caníbales, como los estudios de mioglobina en heces, tal y como se ha documentado en los indios navajo (Marlar et al, 2000), o los hallazgos de proteínas priónicas asociadas a los kuru en el caso de Papúa (Collinge et al, 2008), estas no se han aplicado aún con éxito a cronologías prehistóricas.…”